German Chancellor Angela Merkel is to pay a 24-hour visit to Israel Monday with sixteen members of her cabinet who will participate in consultations with the Israeli government at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem.
According to the Times of Israel, the government to government consultations – to focus on ‘’innovation’’- will be the largest in the history of the country. These consultations take place since 2008 either in Berlin or in Jerusalem and reflect the “special relationship” between the two countries.
The visit also kicks off the preparations for next year’s celebration of 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations on May 12 1965.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the German chancellor are expected to unveil the official logo for the jubilee.
Although press reports in Germany say that relations between the two countries have been somewhat tense on several topics such as Iran or the settlements, the Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said that press reports sometimes exaggerate negative headlines while neglecting the many positive aspects of bilateral relations.
There are plenty of examples that highlight the special friendship between the two countries, such as a multitude of joint commercial and development projects and political cooperation.
“The German-Israeli relationship has its share of misunderstandings, misgivings, complexities and special sensitivities,” he said. “There are ups and downs, shadows and lights, but the bottom line is that it’s a good relationship.”
Palmor did express the hope that the Germans, more than other nations, would strive to pay special heed to Israel’s needs. “Of Germany, we expect more,” he said.
''It is almost unprecedented to see a German Chancellor come here with such a large delegation and this shows both her fundamental friendship with Israel and the strenght of the bilateral relations,'' one official in the Israeli Prime Minister's Office was quoted as saying.
Merkel's last visit in Israel was in December 2012. In 2008, she addressed the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, where she vowed that “Israel’s security will never be open to negotiation.”